Safety gas tank cap



Aug. 11, 1931. v I 3, c, c m 1,818,608

SAFETY GAS TANK CAP Filed May 8, 1929 INVENTO xeor' e (3.67m 02 i E I 5 I 1 E n E 1 BY 3 W ATTORNE l atented Aug. 11, I 1931 PATENT OFFICE GEORGE O. CHAFKIN, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK SAFETY GAS TANK CAP Application filed. May 8, 1929. Serial No. 361,387.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in safety gas tank caps.

The invention has for an object the provision of a device of the class mentioned which is of simple durable construction, dependable in use and eflicient in action, and

which may be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

The invention proposes the use of a safety gas tank cap with a hinged door arranged to automatically close, and in closed condition presenting a flat or convexed top surface flushed with the top surface of the other portion of the device for draining off rain water or the like, and preventing the entrance of the water into a gas tank provided with the device in addition the hinged door may be forced open upon insertion of a gasoline supply pipe for fillin the gasoline tank with gas and upon wit drawal of the supply pipe the door automatically closes.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference willbe had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims, in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure Fig. 1 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of an inlet pipe of a gas tank provided with the device.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1, but disclosing a modified form.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but disclosing another modified form of the invention.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken on the line 5-5of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 but showing the hinged door in another position.

The reference numeral 10 indicates generally a safety gas tank cap engaged on the top end of an inlet pipe 11 of a gas tank. The top of the inlet pipe is rovided with threads 12 and the cap 10 t readedly engages on thesethreads. A set screw 13 is arranged for clamping these parts in engaged positions. The cap 10 is provided with a central opening 1 1 normally closed by a door 15.

The sides of the opening 14 are tapered as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the sides of the door similarly tapered for engaging the sides of the opening. The door is hingedl connected on the cap 10 as indicated by re erence numeral 16. This door is provided with a central vent opening 17. In the closed position of the door the top surface of the door is flush with the top surface of the cap 10. This is very important in that no hollowed portions are provided which would tend to collect water capable of draining into the gasoline. A spring 18 is coaxially mounted on the hinge point 16 of the door and the free ends 19 of the spring act against the cap 10\ while the central portion 20 acts against the door 15 for normally urging the door into a closed position.

Dot and dash lines 21 in Fig. 1 indicate that a gasoline supply pipe may be forced downwards against the door 15 for hingedly openin the door to a position as indicated by dot and dash lines 23. The door passes thru an are as indicated by the dash lines 24. In this condition of the device gasoline may. be passed from the supply pipe into the inlet pipe 11 which connects with a gasoline tank. Upon the withdrawal of a supply pipe such as 21 the door automatically moves to its closed position by reason of the action of the spring 18.

In the modified form of the. device illustrated in Fig. 3, a cap 10 has been illustrated formed with a convexed top surface.

This cap is provided with a central opening 14. having vertical sides, and a door 15' is hingedly connected on the cap as at 16 and also has vertical sides for coacting with the sides 14. This door has a convexed top face and in closed position the convexed to face of the door is flush with the convexe top face of the cap. In other respects this form is similar to the preferred form just described.

It is pointed out that rain water, or the like, falling upon'the safety cap will run ofl from the top surface without collecting at any points or draining into the gasoline. For example, should the convexed surface be concaved this would present a hollow which could collect rain water, or the like, and which would eventually drain into the gasoline which is very objectionable.

In the modified form of the device illusstrated in Figs, 4, 5 and 6, a supply pipe 11 has been shown connected with a safety cap cover 10*. Bosses 21 are formed on the inner and outer sides of the cover 10, and arbors 22 are rotatively mounted in these bosses and extend from the inner side of the cover to the outer side. The cap 10 is formed with a central opening 14: having tapered sides as illustrated on the drawings.

A soft rubber washer 23 is secured on the tapered sides of the opening 14 and the top of the washer is flush with the top of the cap 10. A cover 15 is hingedly mounted on the cap and is normally urged into a closed position by a spring 18*. This spring has a central portion 20 acting against the bot tom side of the cover and coiled ends 19 coaxially mounted on the hingegpointof the cover and attached on the inner ends of the arbors 22.

Collars 23 are fixed upon the arbors and act against the bosses on the inner side of the cap 10 and gear wheels 24 are also fixed upon the arbors and are disposed against the outer bosses 21. The collars and the wheels 24 serve to rotatively maintain the arbors 22 within the bosses. The outer ends of the arbors are provided with square heads 25 for engagement by a turning tool. Spring pressed pawls 26 are mounted upon the cap 10 and act against the teeth of the wheels 24 for normally holding the wheels against rotation. r

The pawls 26 may be temporarily disengaged, and the arbors turned in one or in the opposite directions for changing the tension of the spring 18 so that the spring urges the cover 15 closed under an adjusted pressure. Then the pawls are reengaged tov maintain the desired pressure of the spring. The pressure should be so adjusted that the cover 15 is urged closed so that its top face is flush with the top face of the rubber washer 23 and the cap 10. This condition is shown in Fig. 5.

As the elasticity of the rubber washer 23 is effected by the elements, its amount of give upon pressure of the cover 15 will vary during various periods, and the cover may close too far or remain open too great an extent as indicated in Fig. 6. This is undesirable in that a hollowwill be presented which is capable of collecting water, To properly adjust the closing of the cover it is necessary to change the tension in the spring 18 as previously described.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise construction herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modificationscoming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is j 1. A safety gas tank cap, comprising a cap arranged for attachment upon the inlet pipe of a gas tank and formed with an open,- ing having a soft rubber washer secured along its sides, and a door spring pressed for closing the opening and having a top face flush with the top face of the cap, and means for adjusting the closing pressure of the door for insuring a flush meeting of the surfaces, said means including ad ustable arbors connected with springs providing the closing pressure.

2. A safety gas tank cap, comprising a cap arranged for attachment upon the inlet pipe of a gas tank and formed with an opening having a soft rubber washer secured along its sides, and a cover pivotally'mounted upon the cap for closing the opening and having a top face flush with the top face of the cap, and means for adjusting the closing pressure of the cover for insuring a flush meeting of the surfaces, comprising bosses formed upon the inner and outer sides of the cover, arbors having collars rotatively mounted with said bosses, a spring attached upon the said collars for providing closing pressure, and means for holding the said arbors in fixed adjusted positions.

3. A safety gas tank cap, comprising a cap arranged for attachment upon the inlet pipe of a gas tank and formed with an opening having a soft rubber washer secured along its sides, and a cover pivotally mounted upon the cap for closing the opening and having a top face flush with the top face of the cap, and means for adjusting the closing pressure of the cover for insuring a flush meeting of the surfaces, comprising bosses formed upon the inner and outer sides of the cover, arbors having collars rotatively mounted with said bosses, a spring attached upon the said collars for providing closing pressure, means for holding the said arbors in fixed adjusted positions said collars formed upon the end of the arbors and extending from the bosses.

4. A safety gas tank cap, comprising a cap arranged for attachment upon the inlet pipeof a gas tank and formed with an opening having a soft rubber washer secured along its sides, and a cover pivotally mounted upon the cap for closing the opening and having a top face flush with the top face of the cap, and means for adjusting the closing pressure of the cover for insuring a flush meeting of the surfaces, comprising bosses formed upon the inner and outer sides of the cover, arbors having collars rotatively mounted with saidbosses, a spring attached A upon the said collars for providing closing pressure, means for holding the said arbors in fixed adjusted positions, said spring having a central portion acting against the bottom side of the cover and coiled "ends coaxially mounted on the hinge points of the cover.

5. A safety gas tank cap, comprising a cap arranged for attachment upon the inlet pipe of a gas tank and formed with an opening having a soft rubber washer secured along its sides, and a cover pivotally mounted upon the cap for closing the opening and having a top face flush with the top face of the cap, and means for adjusting the closing pressure of the cover for insuring a flush meeting of the surfaces, comprising bosses formed upon the inner and outer sides of the cover, arbors having collars rotatively mounted w1th said bosses, a spring attached upon the said collars for providing closing pressure, and means for holding the said arbors'in fixed adjusted positions, comprising a wheel having teeth and fixed upon one end of the arbors, and a spring pressed pawl pivotally mounted upon the cap and acting between the teeth of the wheels for normally holding the said wheels against rotation.

In testimony whereof I have aflixed my signature.

GEORGE O. CHAFKIN. 

